GMCforum: GMCnet » [GMCnet] What is the best Shocks to get?

Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] What is the best Shocks to get?

Show: Today's Messages :: Polls :: Message Navigator

[GMCnet] What is the best Shocks to get? [message #83339]

Thu, 06 May 2010 11:01

fbhtxak

Messages: 191
Registered: April 2006

Karma: 0

Senior Member

I highly recommend Jim's counsel on shock absorbers. His
characterization of how I use my GMCMh is correct. It has
never been subjected to the conditions he described that
result in physical failure of the Bilstein product.

My choice of the Bilstein brand was heavily influenced by
the ride control they provide on premium European cars.
Daimler AG (i.e., Mercedes Benz) used Bilstein and Sachs
shock absorbers on their products that I owned then (almost
20 years ago) and now. For a GMCMh used primarily on "super
slabs" or as a "boulevard cruiser", the ride control is
analogous to that of premium European automobiles.

Fred Hudspeth
'78 Royale - Tyler, TX
'82 Airstream Excella 28' Motorhome - Anchorage, Alaska

Message: 3
Date: Thu, 6 May 2010 05:39:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jim Bounds <gmccoop@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] What is the best Shocks to get?
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Message-ID: <156840.15016.qm@web112720.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I was not going to get into the "shock wars" here but Fred
brought up an important point.? Yes, if the shock blows out,
Bilstein will honor their warranty and especially if you do
all the things they require and the shock was not
"mistreated".? They deen yanking the eyelet on the end apart
on the rear shock because it was subjected to too much
travel because our rear suspension uses the shock as stop
for?bogy travel.? This is the number one issue on their
shocks and something they do not cover.? You must know that
if you hit a huge pothole with the rear suspension and the
shock is overextended you will be hooped on the warranty.

Fred drives his coach as it should be, on the flat, good
road.? I know how he treats his machine, he understand the
limits but many of the coaches out there in the real world
see service that they should not and there is the rub I have
with Bilstein shocks.? Can't tell ya why other than to say
the eyelet on the KYB shoch is of better construction but
they do not rip out like the Bilsteins do.? Have never seen
KYB damage the way I heve from the Bilsteins.? Sorry but
that is a fact and in that folks used to come by wanting
their shocks warrantied.? Wanting to help my customers I
would trade them out, charge for the install and a couple of
bucks for shipping one way, sent them back and got no
satisfaction.? it only takes a dozen or so losses like that
to sour my opinion for Bilstein.? Maybe I should have shown
the customer the problem and refused to trade out their
shocks-- then I would be the bad guy!? My feeling is to just
stay away from them
alltogether.? i have to down them because when it was
important they did not support me.

Just like anything, if you do not support me do not expect
me to support you!? I inventory KYB shocks, not Bilstein!

Jim Bounds
--------------------------

----- Original Message ----
From: Fred Hudspeth <fbhtxak@sbcglobal.net>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Wed, May 5, 2010 2:29:07 PM
Subject: [GMCnet] What is the best Shocks to get?

This is NOT an endorsement for Bilstein shock absorbers.? I
noted, however, some concern about Bilstein's warranty
service.

I have found them to satisfactorily comply with the terms of
their warranty contract. I have had to replace two shock
absorbers in the almost twenty years since I installed them.
I replaced those two when they began to drip hydraulic fluid
on the garage floor. I replaced the first one in May '03 and
the second in Feb.'10. Bilstein readily complied with my
request for a replacement shock absorber on both occasions..

Here is the contact at Bilstein for warranty service:

Justin Diczhazy - (858)386-5951
Justin.Diczhazy@thyssenkrupp.com
ThyssenKrupp Bilstein of America
Customer Service Aftermarket Division
1402 Stowe Drive
Poway, CA 92604

The warranty contract provides for the customer to pay the
shipping charge to return the defective shock to Bilstein
(about $10 from Zip 75703 to 92064 in Feb.'10). Bilstein
pays the return shipping charge.

Fred Hudspeth
'78 Royale - Tyler, TX
'82 Airstream Excella 28' Motorhome - Anchorage, Alaska

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist